At the Vatican

At the foot of Monte Vaticano is the Vatican. In the Vatican is the Pope. At Rome, where the Vicar of Christ dwells, Holy Year is being celebrated. A combination of all these facts with their endless ramifications makes His Holiness one of the world's busiest ruling Princes.

Last week, he granted many audiences to the pilgrims who came to Rome for the Holy Year celebrations. To James A. Flaherty, Supreme Knight of Columbus, His Holiness gave a special medal usually reserved for Bishops, saying that he gave it because Mr. Flaherty was "the Bishop of the Knights of Columbus." After thanking the Knights for their presence at Rome, the Pope said: "I am well acquainted with what you do in the United States and Canada and elsewhere when the cause of the Church and humanity is in question. Wherever there is a soul in danger or human suffering to alleviate, you are ready to do your best, cooperating with the common Father materially and morally for the salvation of mankind. I praise you for all this, and I want to confirm to you that I am with you in this excellent cause, with you in everything."

The Most Reverend the Archbishop of St! Louis, Dr. John Joseph Glennon, was received by His Holiness in a 35-minute audience, during which Archbishop Glennon presented the quinquennial report of his diocese. After this, Pope and Archbishop marched to the Consistorial Hall where some 100 Missourian pilgrims were assembled. To them the Pope gave medals and an apostolic benediction. Each Missourian kissed His Holiness' hand.

Next day, His Eminence Denis Cardinal Dougherty of Philadelphia and the Right Reverend Bishop Henry Althoff of Belleville, Ill., were received by the Pontiff, as were also the Most Reverend Archbishop Peter Fumasoni-Biondi, Apostolic Delegate at Washington, and Beniamino Gigli, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera House, Manhattan.

On another day, His Holiness appointed the Very Reverend Mgr. Eugene S. Burke of the Diocese of Newark, N. J., Rector of the North American College in Rome. The appointment was recommended by Their Eminences William H. O'Connell of Boston, Denis J. Dougherty of Philadelphia, Patrick J. Hayes of New York and the Most Reverend the Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore, who left the U. S. to make the quinquennial report of his diocese to the Pontiff, as custom demands.

The next visitors called upon the Pope in the wee hours of the morning. His Holiness was in bed, and in order not to wake him the gentlemen made as little noise as possible; in order not to disturb his court, they considerately let themselves in by the roof of St. Peter's Basilica, visited the sacristy (treasury for sacred ornaments), left with valuables--an antique ring, a pectoral cross, a gilded chalice ornamented with pearls, a gold chalice and, among other things, a gold service for the mass presented by Cardinal Merry del Val. Two days later, robbers and loot were apprehended together.